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Environmental Engineers

The short answer

This job is expected to meaningfully change. AI can already assist with or automate many of its tasks. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to grow over the next decade, with about 285 openings expected each year.

Step 1

Where your job stands

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the most exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. That doesn't mean the job goes away—it means more of its tasks are the kind AI can help with.

How much AI could touch this job

Most exposedband 5 of 5
least exposedmost exposed

Looking at the job itself, AI could help with about half of this job's tasks.

What this means

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the most exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.

Step 2

What AI can and can’t help with in this job

The score comes from the real, day-to-day tasks of this job—not a guess about the job as a whole. Below are the tasks that matter most in this job, split by whether AI can help with them.

AI can help with or automate about 96% of the tasks in this job.

Tasks AI can help with or automate

  1. Design, or supervise the design of, systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

  2. Assess the existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

  3. Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

  4. Advise corporations or government agencies of procedures to follow in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect people and the environment.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

  5. Develop proposed project objectives and targets and report to management on progress in attaining them.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

Tasks AI can't do much of

  1. Assess, sort, characterize, or pack known or unknown materials.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

Step 3

Jobs you could switch to

If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.

See related jobs in

The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.

  • Civil Engineers

    Very similar work
    +2% pay1,146 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays about 2% more—$106,668 vs your $104,109 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a bachelor's degree.

    Getting ready typically takes two to four years.

    Skills you already have

    • Engineering and Technology
    • Design
    • Mathematics
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Written Comprehension

    New skills to build

    • Operations Analysis
    • Transportation
    • Technology Design
    • Visualization
    • Mathematical Reasoning
  • Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors

    Very similar work
    about the same pay152 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays about the same—$104,134 vs your $104,109 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a bachelor's degree.

    Getting ready typically takes two to four years.

    Skills you already have

    • Engineering and Technology
    • Design
    • Mathematics
    • Building and Construction
    • English Language

    New skills to build

    • Psychology
    • Technology Design
    • Public Safety and Security
  • Nuclear Engineers

    Very similar work
    +39% pay238 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 39% more—$145,148 vs your $104,109 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a bachelor's degree.

    Getting ready typically takes two to four years.

    Skills you already have

    • Engineering and Technology
    • Mathematics
    • Chemistry
    • Written Expression
    • Reading Comprehension

    New skills to build

    • Operations Analysis
    • Troubleshooting
    • Technology Design
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Public Safety and Security
  • Chemical Engineers

    Similar work
    +27% pay28 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays about 27% more—$132,675 vs your $104,109 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a bachelor's degree.

    Getting ready typically takes two to four years.

    Skills you already have

    • Engineering and Technology
    • Design
    • Mathematics
    • Chemistry
    • Oral Comprehension

    New skills to build

    • Production and Processing
    • Operations Analysis
    • Troubleshooting
    • Category Flexibility
    • Science
  • Occupational Health and Safety Specialists

    Similar work
    slightly less pay1,913 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays slightly less—$98,402 vs your $104,109 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a bachelor's degree.

    Getting ready typically takes two to four years.

    Skills you already have

    • English Language
    • Oral Expression
    • Chemistry
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Customer and Personal Service

    New skills to build

    • Education and Training
    • Medicine and Dentistry
    • Psychology
    • Finger Dexterity
    • Therapy and Counseling
  • Managers, All Other

    Similar work
    +63% pay5,092 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays about 63% more—$170,007 vs your $104,109 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a bachelor's degree, with less than 5 years of experience.

    Getting ready typically takes two to four years.

    Skills you already have

    • English Language
    • Written Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Oral Comprehension

    Your current skills largely cover this move.

  • Natural Sciences Managers

    Somewhat similar work
    +32% pay466 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 32% more—$136,941 vs your $104,109 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a bachelor's degree, with 5 years or more of experience.

    Getting ready typically takes two to four years.

    Skills you already have

    • Written Comprehension
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Written Expression

    Your current skills largely cover this move.